Starbreeze Abandons Project Baxter, Affecting Around 44 Employees Due to Restructuring

Starbreeze Entertainment has decided to discontinue its Dungeons & Dragons-based games-as-service project, known as Project Baxter. This move follows a thorough strategic review, during which the company determined that its resources would be better utilized in driving the expansion of its flagship Payday series. As a result, a portion of the development team will be internally relocated to work on other Starbreeze projects, while approximately 44 full-time staff members and contractors will be laid off. In a statement, the company explained that it is unable to provide an exact number of affected workers due to ongoing union negotiations. The cancellation of Project Baxter will lead to a non-cash impairment of around SEK 255 million ($27.2 million) in Q3 2025. According to Starbreeze CEO Adolf Kristjansson, 'this decision, although difficult, is necessary to sharpen our focus and create long-term value for our players, employees, and shareholders.' By concentrating on the Payday franchise, the company aims to accelerate delivery, engage players with more content, and solidify its position as a leader in the heisting genre. Kristjansson expressed his gratitude to the Baxter team for their dedication and creativity, as well as his appreciation to Wizards of the Coast for their support. Although the project will not be moving forward, the achievements and contributions made during its development will be carried over to Payday and future Starbreeze projects.